Assessment of Gender Digital Divide and Participation in Public Discourse Online

The study assessed the gender digital divide and participation in online public discourse among internet users in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to examine the level of digital access among males and females, identify factors contributing to the gender digital divide, determine patterns of participation in online public discourse, examine challenges limiting women’s participation and assess the implications of the gender digital divide on democracy and public discourse. The study adopted the Digital Divide Theory as its theoretical framework. A descriptive surveyresearch design was employed, while the population comprised internet users in Benin City. A sample size of 400 respondents was selected using a multistage sampling technique involving stratified and simple random sampling methods. Questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection, while data were analysed using frequencytables and simple percentages. Findings revealed that males had greater digital access and participated more actively in online public discourse than females. The study also found that poor infrastructure, high cost of data, lack of digital literacy, cultural restrictions, online harassment, and cyberbullying were major factors contributing to the genderdigital divide and limiting women’s participation in online discussions. The study concluded that the gender digital divide negatively affects inclusive democratic participation and reduces women’s visibility and influence in online public discourse. The study recommended improved digital infrastructure, affordable internet access, enhanced digital literacy programmes for women, and stronger measures against online harassment.